Unnatural Emotions: Everyday Sentiments on a Micronesian Atoll and Their Challenge to Western Theory

by Catherine A. Lutz

Book by Lutz, Catherine A.

Genres: Anthropology, Nonfiction, Emotion, Psychology, Academia

273 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1988

Reviews

[Ellana Thornton-Wheybrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

The first anthropology book I've read. Fascinating.

[CTEP]

Unnatural Emotions, a work by Catherine A. Lutz, is a case study exploring her theory on emotions. Lutz’s argument is that the western concept of emotions is not the only way to conceptualize emotion and emotional experience and that emotional meaning is “fundamentally constructed by cultural systems and particular social and material concept”. Thinking of emotions as ‘natural’ can be problematic, and emotional meaning is not universal. Lutz is not denying the psychobiological aspects of emotions, but she is arguing that “cultural views of emotions help construct people’s interpretations of their experiences”. She uses as her case study, her participant observation with the Ifaluk people of the Pacific, and finds several examples of how emotion is dealt not only as a community, but different words for emotions can have different meanings. What interested me about this work is the notion that something that seems to be natural, in another culture could be completely different. It is hard for me to grasp the idea that something like love means differently, depending on where you come from. This is helpful as all the other works I’ve read based on cultural difference because it is necessary to understand essential notions like this. I not only work with many participants from unique cultural backgrounds, but I find still that I need to be reminded that something like even emotions can be culturally specific. The work is a heavy exploration of her theory, and others as well, along side real life examples. It is an interesting read, although it does seem pretty dense and repetitive when it comes to the examples. I would recommend it as to CTEPers who like to read ethnography, or explore theory with examples. As it does not relate directly to technology, the ideas need to be translated to you and your work, and the people you work with.

[Jessica]

I read this for my Psychological Anthropology class. We covered the entire thing in a week, I wish we could have focused on each chapter more.

[Andie Ettenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super interesting book (read for class), I just felt as though Lutz spent a lot of time explaining some factors that didn't come to complete fruition in her thesis/study. However, when she did make it there, I was super engrossed.

[Josie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Classic ethnography intertwined with a critique of Western concepts of emotions. The chapter on the Western perception of emotions could be transposed into any modern work, thirty years on, and still be completely accurate (down to Joe Biden) and relevant.